Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

A new SPCR study has unveiled a more accurate way to measure blood pressure at the ankle, offering a vital breakthrough for people unable to have readings taken from their arms.

New Ankle Blood Pressure Tool Offers Hope for Thousands with Arm Measurement Barriers

A new method developed by researchers at the University of Exeter Medical School could significantly improve the way blood pressure is measured in people who cannot use their arms for standard readings.

Published in BMJ Open and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (SPCR), the study analysed data from over 33,000 individuals to build a personalised predictive model. This model allows for more accurate estimations of arm blood pressure using ankle readings which could be a crucial development for people with disabilities, limb loss, or stroke-related impairments.

An online calculator, called the ABLE-BP Tool, is now available to help healthcare professionals and patients interpret ankle blood pressure more reliably.

Professor Chris Clark, who led the study, explained that while the new method improves accuracy for just 2% more people, that could mean 750 fewer misdiagnoses each year in England alone - and tens of thousands globally.

Read more on the University of Exeter website

 

Further Links: